ANOTHER GAME OF CHICKEN…THIS TIME WITH DIFFERENT PLAYERS

The recent NFL player on field protests during the Star Spangled Banner and the roll out of the huge American flag has created a firestorm of criticism led by President Trump.

Most of the boos are directed at the players and the NFL. The Left supports the protests, the men and women in uniform do not. 70% of the American public sides with them.

Comes now the NFL. Roger Goodell rides the fence saying, “We have to understand the other side. “Protest to progress is what I call it, and we all have to recognize that if we want to see change,” .

NFL Rule A 62-63: The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem.

” During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country.

Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.”

Even though this clause in the NFL rulebook deals with the national anthem protocol, it clearly does not mandate compliance, rather, it is permissive using the term “should” instead of “must”.

CHICKEN CHICKEN, WHO IS GOING TO FLINCH FIRST.

THE PLAYERS:
The NFL millionaires find themselves in a difficult position. Their First Amendment right is not questioned, only its timing. The football field is not he place for a protest. The vast majority are black and support Colin Kaepernick’s position that blacks suffer social injustice. They protest on the field while not doing much to give back to their under-privileged communities.

They disrespect the anthem, flag, and the millions of people in uniform yet only 3 out of 1700 served in the military, law enforcement, fire fighters or 1st responders. There have been 1700 arrests of NFL players since 2000.

NFL players won’t flinch. The commissioner is soft on protests, a strong players’ union, and the rulebook is ambiguous. They are driven by a false cause, the Left, and won’t back down especially because they don’t want to lose face.

PRESIDENT TRUMP:
He is driven by principle and not pragmatism when it deals with respect and honor of the American Flag and national anthem. After all, he is the President and doesn’t answer to anyone. Further, his popularity might increase with the white vote, especially middle America and the southern states..

President Trump will not flinch. He will not back down, he never does.

THE NFL OWNERS:
The owners cannot fire the players for protesting. There would be no legal basis as they are not violating any civil laws or NFL rules. So, each one does something different. They are not united in dealing with the protests.

Steelers President Art Rooney II wrote. “The intentions of Steelers players were to stay out of the business of making political statements by not taking the field.” The only player to emerge was Alejandro Villanueva, a decorated war veteran who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan. He was forced to make a retraction for his lone appearance and apologized to the team.

They will not flinch. Because there is no option for them. Damned if they do, damned if they don’t.

THE NFL:
Commissioner Roger Goodell is in a tough spot. He is boxed in between NFL players, the Players Association, the President, and an overwhelmingly unpopular cause with NFL fans. He is losing support from all sides which is reflected in an already shrinking fanbase.

It is his own fault. The rule A62-63 is not definitive. It has a loophole. No fines were levied. He has not taken a decisive position with on-field protests by mainly black players. Yet he fined Dallas Cowboys for wearing a support patch for the 5 Dallas police officers killed last year as a result of BLM influences.

Is it because he feels it would not be politically correct to issue a cease and desist order because they are black and the BLM type groups would stage large scale protests chasing fans away from the stadiums?

The NFL must flinch. They must give way because its popularity is rapidly waning. Nothing hurts more than a dent in the pocketbook. Public opinion is disgusted with the players and the NFL.

What options does the NFL have?
1. Do nothing
2. Amend the NFL rulebook.
3. Order a mandatory stop order with fines to the players and penalties levied at teams that would affect future draft choices.
4. Allow on-field protests but not during the national anthem.

The NFL cannot allow the status quo. It’s their move, let’s hope Goodell makes the right choice. Our national pastime is as American as the Star Spangled Banner and Old Glory. Let’s keep it that way.